Sony, Universal, and Warner Records have taken legal action against AI start-ups Suno and Udio, alleging copyright violations and seeking $150,000 (£118,200) per infringed work. The lawsuits, filed in Massachusetts and New York federal courts, were announced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The labels accuse the start-ups of utilising their software to generate music that closely mimics existing tracks, thereby directly competing with the original recordings. The lawsuits argue that such practices are not protected under the fair use doctrine, which typically allows for limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as satire or news reporting. Instead, the labels assert that the AI-generated music serves no transformative purpose.
Suno, based in Massachusetts, launched its first product last year and already boasts over 10 million users. The company has a partnership with Microsoft and recently raised $125 million from investors. Meanwhile, Udio, also known as Uncharted Labs and headquartered in New York, is backed by prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Udio gained immediate attention with its app released in April, notably creating the parody track ‘BBL Drizzy’ amidst the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud.
The lawsuits specifically cite tracks like ‘Prancing Queen,’ which even die-hard ABBA fans might mistake for an authentic recording, as evidence of the infringing practices. Additionally, the Udio lawsuit references renditions of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ and ‘My Girl’ by The Temptations. The record labels argue that the motives of these AI firms are ‘brazenly commercial,’ posing a threat to the genuine human artistry that copyright laws are designed to protect.
According to the complaints, ‘The use here is far from transformative, as there is no functional purpose for… [the] AI model to ingest the Copyrighted Recordings other than to spit out new, competing music files.’ This viewpoint aligns with a broader wave of legal challenges from various industries against AI companies’ use of copyrighted material. Just a few months prior, approximately 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj, signed a letter calling for an end to the ‘predatory’ utilisation of AI in the music industry.
The outcome of this case could have substantial implications for the future of AI-generated content and copyright law. While Suno and Udio have yet to respond to requests for comment, the stakes in this legal battle are considerable. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between technological innovation and traditional intellectual property protections, raising critical questions about the future of creativity in an increasingly automated world.
This landmark lawsuit by major record labels against AI start-ups Suno and Udio marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over AI-generated content and copyright law. The court’s decision could significantly shape the future landscape of the music industry and intellectual property rights.
